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You are here > Home > What's On > Family Events

Family Events

For guaranteed fun for all the family check out our list of events taking place across the county.

Whether you are looking for things on this weekend, or looking for what's on today, we have all the amazing events for a great days out with the kids.

Create lasting memories with your loved ones at Durham's family-friendly events. Explore a diverse array of kid-friendly activities, family festivals, and interactive outings that cater to all ages. From educational workshops to entertaining performances, Durham offers a vibrant calendar of events designed to bring families together. Stay informed about the latest family-friendly happenings, and plan your weekends with the exciting array of cultural and recreational activities that Durham has to offer.

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Number of results: 104

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  1. Child reading a Ladybird book

    Add Festival of Books at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Festival of Books at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Get ready for a magical day of stories, imagination and creativity at Ushaw’s Festival of Books on Saturday 9 August 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2025
    More info for Festival of Books at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  2. Cartoon of a sailor dancing

    Add HMS Pinafore by Illyria to your Itinerary

    HMS Pinafore by Illyria

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Durham City

    Join us for outdoor summer theatre with sharp dialogue and catchy tunes, this timeless comic opera is performed outdoors by a cast of six outstanding performers from the world of musical theatre, on a spectacular nautical set and using Sir Arthur…

    Venue

    Durham Cathedral, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025Open 18:30 - 20:30
    More info for HMS Pinafore by Illyria
  3. Vintage Sports Car with church in the background

    Add Vintage & Classic Sports Car Day to your Itinerary

    Vintage & Classic Sports Car Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Vintage and Classic Sports Car Day in the grounds of Brancepeth Castle.

    Venue

    St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth

    Dates

    From:
    9 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Vintage & Classic Sports Car Day
  4. poster promoting free family fun day in Peterlee

    Add Free Family Summer Fun Day to your Itinerary

    Free Family Summer Fun Day

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Helford Road, Peterlee

    Looking for something exciting to do with the kids this summer? Peterlee Town Council is bringing you free  Family Fun Days packed with entertainment, activities, and summer vibes!

    Dates

    From:
    4 Aug 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Free Family Summer Fun Day
  5. Preston Park Museum and Grounds

    Add S&DR200: Tracks of Change to your Itinerary

    S&DR200: Tracks of Change

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Stockton on Tees

    Following a major redevelopment, Preston Park will open its new exhibition space with Tracks of Change, a series of exhibitions exploring the impact and legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200: Tracks of Change
  6. Jack and the Beanstalk written in Gold on a green background

    Add Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham to your Itinerary

    Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Pantomimes

    Durham City

    Join Jack and his friends as we are transported to a land of magical creatures and a very hungry Giant.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Jack and the Beanstalk - Gala Durham
  7. The Bowes Museum and grounds

    Add Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum to your Itinerary

    Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Explore the museum with our spotting and drawing activities and enjoy our outside spaces with the Pocket Parkland Playbook, specially designed to help you get creative with the natural materials around you. All available from reception.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Parkland Play - The Bowes Museum
  8. a man demonstrating a science experiment with fire.

    Add Big "Bath Bomb" Science to your Itinerary

    Big "Bath Bomb" Science

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Bargate Bank, Lanchester

    This Summer we welcome back Big Science for some more exciting and fun experiments, this time centred around bath bombs.

    Dates

    From:
    6 Aug 2025Open 11:30 - 12:30
    More info for Big "Bath Bomb" Science
  9. Children exploring the Maize Maze at Thorpe Farm Centre

    Add Maize Maze to your Itinerary

    Maize Maze

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Barnard Castle

    Embark on an exciting hunt through our 4-acre trail. Our Maize Maze is brand new for 2025 with twists, turns and dead ends!!

    Dates

    From:
    28 July 2025to21 Sept 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00
    More info for Maize Maze
  10. Aerial view of Ushaw Classic Car and Bike Show

    Add Ushaw Classic Car and Bike Show - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Ushaw Classic Car and Bike Show - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Durham

    Ushaw Classic Car & Bike Show returns for more motoring madness on Saturday 24 May 2025. Featuring hundreds of vintage and classic vehicles, live music, trade stalls and family friendly activities. What’s better than one Ushaw Classic Car & Bike…

    Dates

    From:
    31 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Ushaw Classic Car and Bike Show - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  11. Entrance to Dalton Park Outlet and Outdoors

    Add Mini Pride - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors to your Itinerary

    Mini Pride - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Murton

    As part of its exciting summer programme, Dalton Park is proud to partner with Curious Arts to present Mini Pride – a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of creativity, self-expression and inclusivity.

    Dates

    From:
    8 Aug 2025Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Mini Pride - Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors
  12. HST charter at Stanhope Station - Credit Dan Millard

    Add InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Station Road, Stanhope

    Railway fans and families are in for a treat this summer as the legendary InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) makes a rare appearance on the scenic Weardale Railway.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    17 Aug 2025
    More info for InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) at The Weardale Railway
  13. Two women and three children walking around the lake at Hardwick Park

    Add Forest Club - Hardwick Park to your Itinerary

    Forest Club - Hardwick Park

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Sedgefield

    Forest Club is a hands-on experience designed to engage children with the world around them through natural and play based activities. The programme is aimed at children between two and six years of age. Each session will include a different …

    Dates

    From:
    26 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Forest Club - Hardwick Park
  14. Elizabeth Baker, local storyteller and writer, entertaining children at Durham Cathedral with thought-provoking tales.

    Add Family Storytelling: Magna Carta to your Itinerary

    Family Storytelling: Magna Carta

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham

    Hear from local storyteller and writer Elizabeth Baker, as she shares original and thought-provoking tales, as you learn more about Magna Carta and the North exhibition, as history comes to life. Booking is not required.

    Dates

    From:
    5 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 15:30
    From:
    12 Aug 2025Open 10:00 - 15:30
    More info for Family Storytelling: Magna Carta
  15. Crowds enjoy show jumping at Weardale Show.

    Add 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025 to your Itinerary

    155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025

    Type

    Type:

    Agricultural Show

    St. Johns Chapel

    The Weardale Show returns on Saturday 30th August 2025.

    Dates

    From:
    30 Aug 2025
    More info for 155th Weardale Agricultural Show 2025
  16. People looking at the exhibition display stand at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Shildon

    Home to one of largest collections of historic rail vehicles in the world, Locomotion is pulling out all the stops to commemorate S&DR200.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Feb 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for S&DR200 - Railway Firsts at Locomotion
  17. Modern Japanese bluish glass sculpture with a design based on ancient form.

    Add Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Durham City

    Learn about prehistoric Japan and make a clay dogu figure.

    Venue

    Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham City

    Dates

    From:
    1 Aug 2025Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Exploring Ancient Japan at The Oriental Museum
  18. Poster promoting free family fun day in Peterlee. Illustrations of the sun, ice creams, doughnuts and hot dogs.

    Add Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee to your Itinerary

    Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Peterlee

    Looking for something exciting to do with the kids this summer? Peterlee Town Council is bringing you FREE Family Fun Days packed with entertainment, activities, and summer vibes!

    Dates

    From:
    27 Aug 2025Open 10:30 - 15:30
    More info for Free Family Fun Day in Peterlee
  19. Art installation beside New Hall at Locomotion

    Add S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion to your Itinerary

    S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Shildon

    As part of the S&DR200 celebrations, two special public art installations will be unveiled in 2025, each capturing a unique story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s legacy and its connection to the community.

    Dates

    From:
    1 June 2025to30 Sept 2025
    More info for S&DR200 Public Art Commissions at Locomotion
  20. Halloween party poster for children showing cobwebs, bats, spiders, trees and ghouls

    Add Children's Halloween Party to your Itinerary

    Children's Halloween Party

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Peterlee

    Get ready for a spooktacular night of fun at Peterlee's Children's Halloween Party.

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2025Open 17:00 - 19:00
    More info for Children's Halloween Party
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